Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 448: Taking risks.

"Commander," one of the officers ventured hesitantly, "our sensors show no readings... It’s like they’re cloaked. They must have advanced stealth systems."

Sirius gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the looming fleet that now bore down on them. They were hopelessly outnumbered, surrounded by a force that could obliterate them in moments. The situation had shifted in an instant, and all his carefully laid plans unravelled like smoke in the wind.

"Han Xin," Sirius growled under his breath, his voice a low rumble of hatred. "This cunning bastard."

His face contorted with rage as he watched the enemy fleet materialize, his curses directed at Han Xin echoing through the bridge. Just as he was about to unleash another torrent of invective, a transmission request flashed on the holographic screen.

"Maximus spacecraft requesting transmission," the computer announced, its voice flat and emotionless.

Sirius’s jaw clenched and unclenched, his eyes narrowed. Refusing the call would be a blatant display of cowardice, a sign of weakness he couldn’t afford. He was trapped.

"Your Highness," his general prompted, his voice laced with a subtle warning.

Sirius gritted his teeth. "Accept it."

Han Xin’s face reappeared on the screen, his expression as impassive as ever. This time, however, Xiang Yu was in the background, casually seated in the debriefing room, his regal bearing and undeniable beauty a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. Sirius’s eyes flickered to Xiang Yu, a flicker that did not go unnoticed by Han Xin.

"Keep looking at my man," Han Xin said, his voice low and dangerous, an oppressive aura filling the bridge, "and I will gouge out your eyes when I kill you."

Despite the threat, Sirius felt no fear. Instead, he settled into his captain’s chair, beckoning to his attendant. The man swiftly produced a cigar, placing it between Sirius’s lips.

Sirius leaned forward, and the attendant lit the cigar, the tip glowing a fiery orange. He inhaled deeply, exhaling a plume of smoke that curled towards the ceiling.

"You truly overestimate yourself," Sirius said, his voice laced with disdain.

Xiang Yu, his voice calm and steady, responded, "If I beat you, what do you think my man will do to you?"

Sirius pressed his tongue against his cheek, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know... what I want to know is how long you have known that Han Xin is the true heir to the throne?"

He puffed out another cloud of smoke, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. "It seems to me that you have known for a very long time, and to save your skin... you made him fall in love with you so you could avoid the consequences, and he would marry you, am I wrong?"

Xiang Yu’s expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of concern flashed in his eyes. He wasn’t afraid of Sirius’s words for himself, but for the potential poison they could inject into Han Xin’s mind.

Sirius, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, pressed his advantage. He looked at Han Xin, his voice dripping with venom. "Yu Yu, do you even love him, or are you with him because you’re scared of what he will do to you after all your past transgressions?"

Han Xin’s fist clenched, his knuckles turning white. His anger, previously simmering beneath the surface, threatened to erupt. He knew Sirius was trying to provoke him, to sow seeds of doubt, but the words, like poisoned darts, found their mark, igniting the flames of his inner turmoil.

The air in the command centre crackled, thick with unspoken tension. Xiang Yu got up and moved with a deliberate slowness that amplified the threat he posed.

He stopped before Han Xin, his gaze unwavering. "Do you want to know how much I love him?" His voice, usually a thunderous roar, was low and resonant, a promise of both devotion and destruction.

"Then come out and fight me to the death."

The touch was unexpected, a feather-light caress that forced Han Xin’s chin up. Xiang Yu’s eyes, dark and intense, held a storm within them, a tempest of love and rage. "For this man," he said, his voice a low growl, " For this man I will kill, and get killed."

Han Xin saw the sincerity, a raw, unadulterated truth that pierced through the turmoil within him. The chaos that had raged in his heart moments before stilled, replaced by a strange, unsettling calm. His fingers, which had been clenched at his sides, instinctively tightened around Xiang Yu’s waist, pulling him closer.

Sirius, lounging in his seat, sneered. "Is this why you called me? To put on a show?"

Han Xin’s gaze shifted, hardening. "Let’s settle this, one versus one."

Sirius extinguished his cigar, a plume of smoke curling towards the ceiling. "Okay," he drawled, his eyes flicking towards Xiang Yu. "What do I get if I win?"

Xiang Yu scoffed, a sound of utter contempt.

"Don’t even think about it," Han Xin retorted, his voice sharp. "You would have to kill me first."

Sirius chuckled, a low, predatory sound. "That can be arranged."

Xiang Yu’s glare intensified, a murderous intent so potent it seemed to physically manifest. It was a look that promised annihilation, a silent vow to erase Sirius from existence.

"If you win," Han Xin said, his voice clipped, "and I will accept the conditions of your father’s peace treaty."

A flicker of triumph crossed Sirius’s face. The peace treaty, a bitter pill for the Republic, would solidify the Federation’s advantage.

"Fine," Sirius agreed, his lips twitching.

"But," Han Xin continued, his voice dropping an octave, "if you lose... you will be bound by the primordial treaty for the next hundred years."

The air in the room thickened. The primordial treaty, a relic from the ancient schism between the Federation and the Republic, was a sacred pact, rarely invoked. It was a binding agreement that held significant weight.

The Federation, once prosperous, had suffered devastating losses. The shifting twin suns had turned planets into wastelands, and the loss of two planets had been a major blow. This was why they were eager to escalate the conflict with the Republic.

Han Xin’s terms were a gamble, a high-stakes play. If Sirius lost, the Federation would have to relinquish the mining planet they had seized a century ago, a significant strategic and economic loss.

Sirius’s eyes narrowed. He knew the risk. But he also knew he wouldn’t lose. "Fine," he repeated, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I will take you up on that offer. But I need time to prepare." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

"Sure," Han Xin said, his voice flat. "Twelve hours."

With that, Han Xin terminated the communication, the holographic image of Sirius vanishing, leaving the command centre in a tense, pregnant silence.